A while back Griffen stated that while he thought Americans were more friendly, British were more polite. I tend to agree with that observation. When one takes the bus here (at least in Cambridge) I notice that as the passengers get off, they always say thank you to the driver. Whereas in America I think a passenger may have a conversation with the driver, but never say thank you.
That brings us to other manners. Since moving here Kaitlyn has had a difficult time in school communicating with teachers. If she gets caught out for talking in class and then defends herself by saying, "I'm sorry, so and so was talking to me and I was asking them to stop," she gets told off by the teacher for talking back. I see nothing wrong with that response and asked a friend why the teacher would say otherwise. Her explanation was that it comes across as rude to start a sentence with, "I'm sorry." If Kaitlyn were to switch around her sentence and instead say, "So and so was talking to me and I was asking them to stop, I'm sorry," she would probably not be told off. mmm. Something tells me that any defense of oneself would not be accepted and she is just supposed to suck it up and not whinge.
Sep 27, 2010
Sep 20, 2010
A New Roof
I have been watching this house for at least a year now...it went up for sale, sold and then sat there. Lovely cottage garden went to ruin, then the roof was removed and finally we have this.
Sep 17, 2010
Weather Report
I don't know why, but for some reason reading the weather forecast always makes me smile. Perhaps it's the flowery descriptions of the weather. Are the forecasters trying to make it sound better than it is?
Today from the MetOffice we have: "Temperatures will quickly fall as cloud melts away, leaving a clear, chilly night with light winds. In rural areas a slight ground frost is likely. Minimum temperature 4C."
Almost poetic.
Today from the MetOffice we have: "Temperatures will quickly fall as cloud melts away, leaving a clear, chilly night with light winds. In rural areas a slight ground frost is likely. Minimum temperature 4C."
Almost poetic.
Sep 11, 2010
They Must Learn in Order to Remember
Today is the ninth anniversary of 9/11. We asked the kids if they knew what it was. Answer...No.
Jillian, age 6, is learning about the Incas and Aztecs and their use of chocolate; Griffen, age 10, is learning about The Blitz on London during WWII; and Kaitlyn, age 12, is learning about the Tudors. In fact, Griffen's lessons have been enhanced by our close proximity to an air museum which last weekend had a Battle of Britain air show with WWII planes flying overhead as well as the discovery of an unexploded bomb in the village the same day. However, I do think it is sad that as Americans our kids couldn't tell us what happened on 9/11. I hope that American History lessons back home include what happened that day.
Jillian, age 6, is learning about the Incas and Aztecs and their use of chocolate; Griffen, age 10, is learning about The Blitz on London during WWII; and Kaitlyn, age 12, is learning about the Tudors. In fact, Griffen's lessons have been enhanced by our close proximity to an air museum which last weekend had a Battle of Britain air show with WWII planes flying overhead as well as the discovery of an unexploded bomb in the village the same day. However, I do think it is sad that as Americans our kids couldn't tell us what happened on 9/11. I hope that American History lessons back home include what happened that day.
Sep 10, 2010
Excuse the Interruption
Please excuse the long break in my blog. Life got in the way and my desire and ability to write disappeared.
Oct 15, 2009
Jun 11, 2008
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